Filament break detector



April 18, 1967 PESEK ETAL FILAMENT BREAK DETECTOR Filed Dec.

SPINNING H N J C A BER L United States Patent Office 3,315,047 PatentedApr. 18, 1967 FILAMENT BREAK DETECTOR Vladimir Pesek, Zamberk, JiriElias, Brandys, nad Orlici, Jan Holub, Zamel, Pavel Celerin, Usti, nadOrlici, and Oldrich Reliureln Nachod, Czechoslovakia, assignors to"yzknmny Ustav Bavlnarsky, Usti, Czechoslovakia Filed Dec. 14, 1965,Ser. No. 513,865 Claims priority, application Czechoslovakia,

Dec. 15, 1964, 7,085/64 14 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-61.18)

The present invention relates to a textile machine. More specifically,the invention relates to a control device in a textile machine. Stillmore specifically, the present invention relates to a control deviceused in a textile machine for detecting and acting upon falling of thetension of a tensioned filament below a predetermined minimum level.

Filaments being processed in textile machines pass through the machinesat relatively great speed and under tension from one processing stationto another. If the progress of such a filament is delayed or interruptedat any point in its path through the textile machine, then parts of themachine, or even the entire machine, will cease to function properly. Toeliminate this problem it is necessary to assure that falling of thefilament tension below-a predetermined minimum level, as would forexample be the case upon breakage of the filament, cause an immediateresponse such as shut-down or activation of various processing stationsor auxiliary devices, designed to prevent malfunctioning of the machine.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide,in a textile machine, a control device which is capable of operating asset forth above.

A more specific. object of the present invention is to provide a controldevice of the type discussed above which is highly sensitive and willreact immediately to falling of the filament tension below a minimumpredetermined level.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control device of thetype mentionedearlier which is particularly suitable for a spinningmachine with rotating spinning chamber.

In accordance vw'th one feature of the present invention we provide, ina textile machine, a control device comprising tubular detector meanswhich is movable between a first position and a second position. Biasingmeans is provided which tends to move the tubular detector means fromthe first into the secondtposition.thereof, and means is arranged foradvancing a filament under tension and lengthwise alonga straightpredetermined path extending through the tubular detector means with thefilament contacting the tubular detector means in such a manner as totend to retain the tubular detector means in the first position thereofagainst action of the biasing means when the filament is under apredetermined minimum tension. The tubular detector means is moved bythe biasing means into the second position thereof when the tension ofthe filament decreases under the predetermined tension and the filamentthereby deviates from the. predetermined path thereof. We have furtherprovided signal generating means and actuating means which isoperatively connected with the tubular detector means and with thesignal generating means for actuating the latter when the tubulardetector means moves into the second position thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbev best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,and illustrates a slight modification; and

FIG. 3 is also a partial sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG.1, and illustrates a further modification.

Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIG. 1 thereof, itwill be seen that the novel control device comprises a base plate 1 towhich there are secured at right angles two lateral walls 2, 3 so thatthe plate 1 and the walls 2 3 together constitute a support means ofsubstantially U-shaped cross section. The walls 2, 3 are provided withadjusting means, such as screws 4, 5 which extend from the exterior ofthe Walls therethrough and have front portions projecting into the freespace between the walls 2, 3. The front portions of screws 4, 5 may beinserted into the free space between the walls 2, 3 to a greater orlesser degree by turning of the respective screw and serve asmotion-limiters as will become clear presently. Base plate 1 is providedwith a bore 6 which in the present embodiment is threaded, so that theplate 1 may be secured to an outlet of another element, such as arotating spinning chamber shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 Withoutreference numeral, by threading a corresponding portion of the outletinto the bore 6.

A tubular portion or coupling tube 8 is provided on the inner surface ofthe base plate. 1 concentric with the bore 6. A tubular detector means,such as an elongated tube 7, is arranged coaxially with the couplingtube 8 in such a manner that one end of the tube 7 is located adjacentto but slightly axially spaced from the coupling tube 8. The tubes 7 and8 are secured together by means of a flexible sleeve 9, which in theembodiment of FIG. 1 is of a elastomeric material and is preferablyair-tight, and which surrounds the adjacent end portions of the tubes 7and 8, holding them slightly apart in axial direction so that the tube 7is capable of tilting transversely with reference to the axis ofcoupling tube 8. In other words, the tube 7 will tilt with respect tothe coupling tube 8 about that one of its end portions which is locatedadjacent to the coupling tube 8. The wall 3 carries a forked bracket 19Which so limits the tube 7 that it can move only in one plane, which inthe embodiment of FIG. 1 will be seen to extend between the left andrighthand side of the drawing. The adjustable screws 4, 5 assure thatthe maximum movement of the tube 7 in either direction can be preciselyadjusted which is accom plished by having their front ends extend intothe free space between the walls 2, 3 to a greater or lesser degree,where, they serve as limit stops against which the tube 7 abuts duringits movements if the latter exceed their predetermined range. Anelongated slot 16 is provided in the Wall 3 so arranged as to be axiallyparallel with the tube 7, and a set screw 15 extends through the slot 16and its inner end disposed between the latter and the tube 7, a carriermember which supports a biasing means and a signal generating means,both of which are movable in axial direction of the tube 7 by shiftingthe set screw 15 Within the elongated slot 16. -The biasing meanscomprises a springy member, in this case of substantially U- shapedconfiguration, having an elongated arm 13 which presses with an endportion 13' thereof against the tube 7 in a direction tending to tiltthe tube towards the left in FIG. 1. A signal generating means, such asa microswitch 18, is arranged in conjunction with the biasing means insuch a manner that, when the tube 7 is tilted towards the left in FIG. 1under the influence of the biasing means, the contacts of themicroswitch 18 are closed and a circuit is completed whereby themicroswitch may generate visual or audio signals to attract theattention of the machine operator, or signals which may shut down oractuate various processing stations and auxiliary portions of themachine employing the novel control device. Of course, it will beunderstood that the contacts of swtich 18 could also be normally closedso that tilting of tube 7 towards the left under the influence of thebiasing means would interrupt a circuit instead of completing it. A tripor actuating member 17 is carried by the arm 13 of the biasing memberand may be shiftable in the longitudinal direction thereof so as topermit varying its distance from the contact members of the switch 18.This will then determine to what extent the tube 7 can tilt before themember 17 interrupts the circuit switch 18.

A filament P, which is supplied from another part of the textilemachine, for instance from a rotary spinning chamber, passes through thebore 6 in the base plate 1 along the length of tube 7, and through thefree end of tube 7 from where it may then travel to another processingstation and ultimately to a take-up means, none of which is shown. Theessential point is that the path of the filament F must be so selectedthat the filament will engage the inner surface of the circumferentialwall of tube 7 in such a manner as to bias the tube 7 towards the right(as seen in FIG. 1) in opposition to the biasing action of the springyarm 13 of the biasing means. Thus, the signal generating means, that isthe switch 18, will not generate any signal while the tube 7 is biasedtowards the right as seen in FIG. 1. Only if the tension of the filamentF which maintains the tube 7 in right-hand deflection against theopposition of the biasing means, falls below a predetermined level, forexample as a result of breakage of the filament F in the spinningchamber, will the biasing means be able to move the tube 7 towards theleft and to thereby actuate the switch 18. It will be evident thatduring operation of a textile machine employing he novel control device,fluctuations in the tension of the filament F are bound to occur. Suchfluctuations may cause variations in the tension of the filament so thatthe tension may fluctuate between 6 and 20 grams. However, the novelcontrol device will be so adjusted that such fluctuations will causeonly minor movements of the tube 7, and such movements are notsuflicient to actuate the signal generating means 18. If the filament Fshould break, then of course the biasing means will tilt the tube 7towards the left in FIG. t1, whereby the microswitch 18 will be actuatedand the required operations be thereby carried out, such as actuation ofauxiliary processing devices in the textile machine.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is essentially the same as that shown inFIG. 1. The difference resides in the different manner in which the tube7 is tiltably supported. As is clearly evident from FIG. 2, an endportion of the tube 7 is again arranged coaxially with the coupling tube8, and both end portions of the tubes 7 and 8 are surrounded by a sleeve10 of a yieldable material, such as plastic whose ability to yield isimproved by circumferential corrugations provided on it. Unlike FIG. 1,however, where the sleeve 9 constituted the only support for the tube 7,it will be seen in FIG. 2 that there are arranged bearing supports 12 oneither side of tube 7 adjacent the connected end portion thereof, andthat the tube 7 or the sleeve 10 carries needle bearings 11 which aresupported by the supports 12 so that the tube 7 can tilt about theseneedle bearings 11.

A further modification is shown in FIG. 3; however, this concerns notthe manner in which the tube 7 is positioned for tilting, but rather thebiasing means. As will be seen, the embodiment of FIG. 3 is again rathersimilar to that of FIG. 1, except for the fact that the biasing means,or more specifically the arm 13 thereof, is not in itself capable ofproviding a biasing action towards the left in FIG. 3 against the tube7. This is accomplished in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 by means of apneumatic device 20, such as a pneumatic spring, which is operativelyconnected to the free end portion 13 of the arm 13 and which serves tobias the arm 13 towards the left in FIG. 3. Such pneumatic springs arewell known in the art and it is not believed to be necessary to describethe same in detail. Care must of course be taken that the biasing forceof the device 20 is less than the biasing force of filament P, so thatthe tube 7 will be deflected to the left only if the biasing forcei.e.the tension-of filament F falls below a predetermined minimum level.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofcontrol devices differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in acontrol device, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,since various modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a textile machine, a control device comprising a support; tubulardetector means mounted on said support and movable between a firstposition and a second position; biasing means urging said tubulardetector means from said first into said second position thereof; meansfor advancing a filament under tension and lengthwise along apredetermined path extending lengthwise through said tubular detectormeans When the same is in said first position thereof with said filamentcontacting said tubular detector means in such a manner as to tend toretain said tubular detector means in said first position thereofagainst the action of said biasing means when said filament is under apredetermined minimum tension, said tubular detector means being movedby said biasing means into said second position thereof when the tensionof said filament decreases below said predetermined tension and saidfilament thereby deviates from said predetermined path thereof; signalgenerating means for generating a signal in response to movement of saidtubular detector means from one to the other position thereof; andactuating means comprising an operative connection with said tubulardetector means and with said signal generating means for actuating thelatter when said tubular detector means moves into said second positionthereof.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1; wherein said support meansincludes a pair of spaced parallel side walls and an end wall extendingbetween said side walls connecting the same and provided with a borecoaxial with said tubular detector means, said filament extendingthrough said bore.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said signal generatingmeans is a switch means movable between open and closed positions andnormally assuming one of said positions, said switch means assuming theother position upon actuation by said actuating means to generate asignal.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said actuating meanscomprises trip switch activating means carried by said biasing means andmaintaining said switch means in said one position While said filamentis under said predetermined minimum tension.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4; and further comprising adjustingmeans for adjusting the position of said trip means relative to saidbiasing means and said tubular detector means, so that said controldevice may respond to different degrees of minimum tension of saidfilament.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said biasing meanscomprises a leaf spring secured to said support means and having anengaging portion engaging said tubular detector means in biasingrelationship.

7. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said biasing meanscomprises an arm secured to said support means and having a portionadapted to engage said tubular detector means so as to bias the samefrom said first to said second position thereof, and a pneumatic springoperatively connected with said arm and urging the same into biasingengagement of said portion thereof with said tubular detector means.

8. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said end wall is providedwith a tubular projection surrounding said bore intermediate said sideWalls and rigid with said end wall, said tubular detector means beingaxially aligned with said projection and having an end portion facingthe same; and further comprising connecting means connecting said endportion of said detector means and said projection to one another inaxially spaced relationship, whereby said tubular detector means is freeto tilt with reference to said projection.

9. A structure as defined in claim 8, wherein said con necting meanscomprises a sleeve of elastomeric material surrounding said projectionand said end portion of said detector means.

10. A structure as defined in claim 9, wherein said sleeve surroundssaid projection and said end portion of the detector means in fiuidtightrelationship.

11. A structure as defined in claim 10; and further comprisingpin-bearing means connected to said end portion of said detector means,said pin-bearing means supporting said detector means for titlingmovement transversely of the axis thereof.

12. A structure as defined in claim 8; and further comprising means forlimiting direction and degree of tilting of said tubular detector means.

13. A structure as defined in claim 2; and further comprising rotaryspinning chamber means having a stationary housing having an outlet,said control device being secured to said housing with said bore of saidend Wall being coaxial with said outlet so that said filament can extendthrough said outlet and said bore into said tubular detector means.

14. A structure as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means forvarying the position of said signal generating means relative to saidtubular detector means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,128,476 8/1938Runton 200--61.18 2,419,518 4/1947 Eichinger 20061.18 2,542,708 2/1951Rogow ZOO-61.18 3,120,587 2/1964 Rudd ZOO-61.18

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. H. E. SPRINGBORN, AssistantExaminer.

1. IN A TEXTILE MACHINE, A CONTROL DEVICE COMPRISING A SUPPORT; TUBULARDETECTOR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRSTPOSITION AND A SECOND POSITION; BIASING MEANS URGING SAID TUBULARDETECTOR MEANS FROM SAID FIRST INTO SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF; MEANSFOR ADVANCING A FILAMENT UNDER TENSION AND LENGTHWISE ALONG APREDETERMINED PATH EXTENDING LENGTHWISE THROUGH SAID TUBULAR DETECTORMEANS WHEN THE SAME IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION THEREOF WITH SAID FILAMENTCONTACTING SAID TUBULAR DETECTOR MEANS IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO TEND TORETAIN SAID TUBULAR DETECTOR MEANS IN SAID FIRST POSITION THEREOFAGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID BIASING MEANS WHEN SAID FILAMENT IS UNDER APREDETERMINED MINIMUM TENSION, SAID TUBULAR DETECTOR MEANS BEING MOVEDBY SAID BIASING MEANS INTO SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF WHEN THE TENSIONOF SAID FILAMENT DECREASES BELOW SAID PREDETERMINED TENSION AND SAIDFILAMENT THEREBY DEVIATES FROM SAID PREDETERMINED PATH THEREOF; SIGNALGENERATING MEANS FOR GENERATING A SIGNAL IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAIDTUBULAR DETECTOR MEANS FROM ONE TO THE OTHER POSITION THEREOF; ANDACTUATING MEANS COMPRISING AN OPERATIVE CONNECTION WITH SAID TUBULARDETECTOR MEANS AND WITH SAID SIGNAL GENERTING MEANS FOR ACTUATING THELATTER WHEN SAID TUBULAR DETECTOR MEANS MOVES INTO SAID SECOND POSITIONTHEREOF.